printing 18x24 on 40x56??

Posted on Mon, 2 May 2005 at 21:37

guys, im looking at getting a graphics press, pretty much settled on an M&R renegade with takeoff, uv dryer, etc. at least thats the one i want.

anyway, i plan on doing the ususal 18x24's and 12x18's. These would be nearly 100% of my "forseen" buisness.

i am looking at the 40x56 renegade though. i have a tendancy not to underbuy on anything, and i want to have the ability to go bigger if i need to.

the big thing is, since i have never screen printed, and i know most of the buisness will be real estate signs, would it be much of a hassle printing the smaller signs on a larger press, really no difference... or should i get one with a screen size more along the lines of the size i anticipate printing?

thanks in advance...

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Comments

Anonymous says: Hi,
Well, since you have never screen printed before, Are you sure you want too? If I were to start all over again, I would find a quality printer to do the work for me. I'd spend my time finding the ...

Hi,
Well, since you have never screen printed before, Are you sure you want too? If I were to start all over again, I would find a quality printer to do the work for me. I'd spend my time finding the work and delivering the finished product!If you think about it you can make more $$ per job if you just sell and deliver. It takes a fair amount of talent to screen print. having never done it before I'd say you are not going to just start printing deliverable product!
I've been printing for 15 years and some times things just don't want to be printed!
To your question about printing small sign on a large press? First off you will be making the same size screen and the print stroke will be the same as printing the larger size pc. so why waste the emulsion,ink and clean up on the larger press for a small print? If your going to do 18 x 24 buy a press for that!

Anonymous says: Hi,
I would recommend getting the larger size press. You can gang up the artwork to print 2 up, 4 up, 0r 6 up per sheet. Two 18x24 would be 36x24, or 4 up would be 36x 48. That would fit nicely on ...

I would recommend getting the larger size press. You can gang up the artwork to print 2 up, 4 up, 0r 6 up per sheet. Two 18x24 would be 36x24, or 4 up would be 36x 48. That would fit nicely on the press and would bring your run lengths down in size. You can do the math for the 12x18's.lol.
You can easily put a smaller screen in one of these presses. They are completely adjustable.

Here is something to think about.

1. Do you have the room for the larger size press?

2. Can you output the larger size film that the press will require for the screens?

4. Will you be able to cut down a multi up sheet after printing, or do you have a cutter to accommodate the larger size sheet.

.

If you use the smaller screens and print the signs 1up, the film will be cheaper, and every thing else can be downsized, but your run lengths will increase and cut in on your productivity. If you run an 18x24, 1000 impressions, a 36x48(4 up) would only be 250 impressions. This comes in handy when you are running multi colour jobs.

Anonymous says: Hi Bruce,
Have you printed on a Renegade before?
The press can take smaller size screens, and you can adjust the flood and print strokes to go only where you need them to, so as not to waste ...

The press can take smaller size screens, and you can adjust the flood and print strokes to go only where you need them to, so as not to waste time.

I do agree, that subbing out jobs to qualified printers is a good idea, but we all have to start some where, and 18x24 signs is a good place to start. I only wish that we had a press like that to start our business with. If this guy is willing to make an investment like that to start out his business, then good for him, as long as he is willing to put in the time to learn the trade.

Anonymous says: thanks. actually i have been researching for quite some time. right now im large format digital. im in the process of building a new shop, so ill definately have the room.
my biggest concern was ...

thanks. actually i have been researching for quite some time. right now im large format digital. im in the process of building a new shop, so ill definately have the room.

my biggest concern was if it would be "harder" to run the smaller coro jobs on a larger press, i guess you could compare it to trying to cross the street in a jumbo jet. would it make the task more difficult?

i also overbuy everything i get. It usually helps bypass growing pains.

Also, i dont have a cutter, just digital, lamination, sandblasting stuff. This is someting i plan on looking into as well. any suggestions on these?

thanks for the pros and cons. so the consensus is to get the larger press??

Anonymous says: good morning,
what kind of ink are you planning on using? conventional or u.v.? if conventional i would suggest conveyor drying instead of racks and with a press built to handle the standard 18x24 would ...

good morning,
what kind of ink are you planning on using? conventional or u.v.? if conventional i would suggest conveyor drying instead of racks and with a press built to handle the standard 18x24 would be the way i would go. also, you can save by buying quantities of pre cut sizes and if you move to larger run numbers or sizes, this smaller press will give you more versetility in production when adding the larger press. also, depending on the press, the typical entry level larger press will be slower per print due to the cycle.
hope this helps.
roberto

Anonymous says: Hi,
I would say to buy the larger press. We have two 52x84 RenegadeXL presses and run everything on the pins and takeoff, to standardize the set-up of the screens. We run 48"x84" down to 6"x6" jobs ...

I would say to buy the larger press. We have two 52x84 RenegadeXL presses and run everything on the pins and takeoff, to standardize the set-up of the screens. We run 48"x84" down to 6"x6" jobs on these presses, using appropriate size screens for the jobs of course. The presses can print as fast as a smaller one, all you have to do is limit the flood and print stroke to the area that you want to print, and or, speed up the flood and print speeds if possible. We print about 650 Impressions per hour at the 22x28 inch size

Anonymous says: Peter,
No, I've never printed on a Renagade.
I just bought two of Your old presses over the past 3 weeks! The first one I purchased was Just too Big! So I sold it and bought your 22 x 28. I plan on getting ...

Peter,
No, I've never printed on a Renagade.
I just bought two of Your old presses over the past 3 weeks! The first one I purchased was Just too Big! So I sold it and bought your 22 x 28. I plan on getting it wired up this weekend. I understand that a press has adjustments but it's not a 5 minute deal to switch things over? But since this guy has the room for a big press why not? I also think since he has never printed before, he may be in for a few suprises!! That's all.

Anonymous says: Hi Bruce,
Ahhh... now I get where you are coming from...LOL. So you’re the guy who bought the M&M 's from us. Well let me fist start of by saying I am sorry to hear about the first press ...

Ahhh... now I get where you are coming from...LOL. So you’re the guy who bought the M&M 's from us. Well let me fist start of by saying I am sorry to hear about the first press being too big for you shop.

Working on those presses does have all of the limitations that you mentioned on your fist post. The bigger size M&M 's are much slower Vs the smaller sizes.
Much better to go with the smaller size M&M's press, for the 18x24 signs. (Not the case with a renegade).

The screen size should be a constant, standardized size, because the time it takes to make adjustments is far to long, with the M&M’s.
Can they be adjusted? Yes... but not in an efficient, productive manner.

It still beats the hell out of pulling a thousand plus prints, 3 colours or more, by hand though.

I am sure that the guy is in for some speed bumps along the way. It would be foolish to think other wise. But we will be here to help him out when he does.

Anonymous says: so if i had a 40x56 press, i could use a 20x26 (or so) size screen on it without any problems? i have never screen printed before, but i do large format printing and sandblasting in house right how (as ...

so if i had a 40x56 press, i could use a 20x26 (or so) size screen on it without any problems? i have never screen printed before, but i do large format printing and sandblasting in house right how (as well as vinyl) and want to get into screen printing because there are TONS of real estate agents in my area and not a local graphics screen printer withing a 100 mile radius.

i also got a domain name for online sales, and am looking at another thats for sale, so i have a pretty good business plan, just need to put it into action, but im hung up on the right equipment and size to purchase. i know ill mostly (99%) of my work will be the standard 18"x24" but i do want to leave my options open to other stuff, like running 4 up etc.